The Government of Dominica this week received agricultural equipment valued at $750,000, made possible by the People’s Republic of China, to further enhance the agricultural sector on the island.
The supplies, which were presented under the eighth phase of the Chinese Agricultural Technical Cooperation Agreement at One Mile, Portsmouth, include hydroponic cultivation systems to upgrade technology demonstrations; materials required for the maintenance of greenhouses and drip irrigation systems; agricultural tools, seeds, and seedling trays used for continuous seedling breeding; and agricultural machinery such as tractors and accessories.
“This intervention is another testament that the Government of Dominica is keeping to its promises to farmers and we put the necessary systems in place to transform the agricultural sector to meet our 700 by 2035,” Agriculture Minister Roland Royer said while delivering remarks at a handing over ceremony.
According to him, this Dominica-China Modern Agricultural Centre over the years has provided support to several farmers across the island and also served as a training ground for many students.
“The equipment and tools which were officially received include two hydroponics demonstration systems which complement government’s effort in the modernization of the agricultural production system as we work to meet the growing demand of fresh vegetables on the island,” Royer indicated.
He mentioned further that climate change has triggered several weather variabilities which has significantly affected production.
“This has led to the scarcity of vegetables during certain periods of the year, which has further justified the need to engage in more research and introduce technologies and enhance production systems,” he noted. “We believe that this investment in sheltered and smart agriculture systems will enable us to adapt to the impacts of climate change and create more opportunities to meet the growing demand for key commodities and also contribute to food security.”
Royer encourages farmers to take the time to get familiar with the technologies at the modern agricultural complex at One Mile to make sound investment decisions.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said agriculture remains the number one priority in Dominica and his government will continue to work with partners like the Chinese to continue their investments in agriculture, to ensure its sustainability.
“There is no doubt the relationship between Dominica and China has resulted in tremendous positive benefits to the people of Dominica in every sphere of our development,” he said.
Skerrit explained for instance, when he met with the Vice President of the People’s Republic of China in Jamaica in 2005, he said to him that he wished for China to support Dominica in agriculture, and within two weeks of that meeting a team came to Dominica to establish the technical mission in Dominica.
“And since then, we have seen all of those years of tremendous investment in agriculture by the People’s Republic of China,” he stated.
The Prime Minister who is in full support of the move towards technology in agriculture said further that there is no doubt that Chinese technology has assisted Dominica and as the years go by, “we are strengthening that partnership and collaboration to ensure it helps the farmers, the farming community and the agricultural sector.”
Officials were also given a demonstration of a hydroponics system on site.
The Government of Dominica expresses gratitude to the Chinese Technical Mission for its continued support of Dominica’s agriculture sector.
More hand outs. You would swear Dominica cannot do anything for itself. Unless someone gives us something, we just sit around and cry brokes while we watch those were were supposedly elected to be in power waste money day in day out. I tired hear about donations and gifts. Them dlp people does boast about how much money DLP have and oopposition or whoever else doesnt have money to do anything (meanwhile is government treasury money EVERY government uses to run the country). We know this is the government that has had access to the money money for sure that is a fact. But Dominica remains unprogressive. unmodern. and less attractive for Dominicans living in Dominica.
Free stuff is sometimes good, they cost. We should not partake in a culture of aid and dependence for a miserly token of hoe, pickaxe, and cutlass when they could have simply legalized cannabis and transform agriculture so that farmers can buy their own when empowered. They would never wait around for someone to do them a favor with cutlasses and such handouts.
We purchase all sorts foods and various commodities for China. There is a plethora of Chinese businesses here. Chinese building contractors are given the multi-million dollar public contracts.
Here is the million dollar question: What goods do we trade with China? How many Dominicans ply their trade in China? China is one of the world’s leading countries in technological inventions and developments. Has the Chinese opened a school of technology in Dominica? That’s not even a thought!
With their many businesses, contractors, workers, and importation of their goods, China benefits from this relationship like no other country on the planet.
The people here posting about agriculture being big back then,have no idea what they are talking about,the banana industry in particular,has always struggled, from diseases to who own large farming lands, y’all talking about building houses of bananas, like it was a free for all type of exercises,there were like 3 to 4 families that really made it big in banana farming, families from Wesley Marigot and St Joseph,am not naming names,since you all know so much about people building houses on farming, you all should know who made it back then
Bang, bang, bang. Three bad and dangerous names for Dominica; Skerrit, government and China. Unfortunately all three are working in partnership against Dominica.
Chinese again…..I hope whe they ready for their place after spending so much….they would take those in authority first….and head to China with them..😀😀. …and leave Dominica alone…..if they giving Dominica so much….how much they are getting in their pockets and bank accounts ?
See what we getting as a gift at this moment that our economy is lopsided.
“hydroponic cultivation systems to upgrade technology demonstrations; materials required for the maintenance of greenhouses and drip irrigation systems; agricultural tools, seeds, and seedling trays used for continuous seedling breeding; and agricultural machinery such as tractors and accessories”.
$750,000 investment in agriculture
.Everything goes in de hands of de Chinese at One Mile
Twenty-something years later, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit says that the agricultural sector is top priority!
And I say, better late than never but you Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit single handedly killed the agricultural sector in the Commonwealth of Dominica!
China is a wise broker. What’s $750,000 for a developed communist country like China? Folks, here’s the reality of what’s been going on between Roosevelt and China. As mentioned above; “China is a wise broker” who’s intention it is to buy out the little island of ours outright but making payments by installments. This is the real deal. How much Roosevelt is pocketing from this outrageous sale of Dominica is clearly seen by way of his lifestyle and extravagant spending. He gives out Ca$h in the hundreds of thousands to his supporters; most of whom are well off with houses and lands. I know some of these recipients personally who have more land than they can manage. China wants to keep Roosevelt in power as long as he has breath. Roosevelt cannot, and will not vacate the “am” office through any general election whether we have electoral reform or not. Except through some other means. China is the Boss Counterfeiters interfering in general elections all over the world, even here in D/A.
skerrit stop taking hand out
And will he listen to you? We ought to be much more forceful than just a few words of meaningless warnings. Sickening….all you like it so.
What else can he do when you yourself are worth nothing in your own country?
What else does Roosevelt know to do? He must be sad because we didn’t have another hurricane like Maria to make him cry like a toddler at the UN. Yes, he cried because he loves his beloved country so much. What a character.
The top priority for the Roosevelt’s aristocracy is surely NOT agriculture. How could this be when so many of the feeder roads are in such a serious state of disrepair rendering them impassable.
Before Roosevelt’s ascent to the apex of government, agriculture was KING. Many farmers were in a strong financial position to build their own homes and send off their children to university without the help of government. This incumbent government’s inane policies have eviscerated the farming sector.
Dominica once the food basket of this region is now a basket case. The robust agriculture sector is now not even a shadow of its once proud and productive self.
It’s pellucid. SELF-ENRICHMENT is undoubtedly the top priority of Lying Roosevelt …………………………………..
If another island had gotten that $750,000.00 worth of agricultural equipment, you would have said, that is progress. But for your own country you call it “self-enrichment”. Skerrit is here to stay, brother, believe it or not. I wonder whether you say your prayers in the morning? Guess not for the devil is in you.
Reggie looking forward for his shear it’s a pity he can’t talk to say thank you.
Stop making a mockery of one’s ailment,you never know what may befall you. Karma does not play.
Thanks to the Peoples Republic of China for that. Now it’s up to the corruption ladened DLP regime to make sure that real genuine farmers get those equipment, to see if a 1% resussication of the dead and defunct agricultural sector can be achieved. It should not be used like the WORLD BANK cash donation to farmars, where non farmers, but DLP supporters, obtained cash..
Now this lazy, thiefing, deceptive, corrupt, heartless, etc, DLP must try to get markets in China for the little excess agricultural crops that are grown here.
Chi-Chi Bang Bang
Tomatay
Cheko said in his song a LIAR is a THIEF!!